Macbook Pro with Retina display: the reviews are in

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Apple's Macbook Pro with Retina display is out and the reviews are mostly glowing. Here is a roundup of the experts' opinions:

The Good

The new Macbook Pro is all about the resolution and the judgement of the Retina display could not be more positive. 

CBC reported that with the new display, "pictures look considerably sharper, crisper and more colourful than on non-Retina displays, which is useful when browsing through hundreds of vacation photos."

Mashable noted that not only pictures but pretty much everything looks better on the 2,880 x 1,800 pixel display, including fonts and icons.

The new laptop also comes with much needed upgrades, including USB 3, HDMI, and a solid state flash drive that contains no moving parts, noted CNet.

The Ivy Bridge Intel processor and the 8GB of RAM are "meaty" according to Mashable.

PC World rejoices in the decreased weight (4.46 pounds for the new 15-inch model) but says that it still weighs a little more than the Macbook Air.

In sum, reviewers say the new Macbook is the way of the future with its sharper resolution - a no-less-than-magnificent new feature.

Macworld sums up Apple's achievement this way: "The Retina MacBook Pro... is the future of Apple’s laptop line—and it’s a bright, shining symbol of excellence."

The Bad

Time noted that although the retina display is impressive, most app and programs cannot run at the recommended 1440 x 900 resolution that makes the new display really shine.

At that resolution even Microsoft Word had issues displaying correctly, the magazine reported.

CNet said that the entry-level price - $2,199 - cost more than a typical American mortgage - that is until banks cut down on bad lending practices.

The online magazine said that a lack of an onboard Ethernet jack, FireWire and optical drive can often be inconvenient.

The most notable negative review, however, came from iFixit, entitled, "The New Macbook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable."

The lengthy review lamented the increasing difficulty in upgrading or repairing new Macbooks.

For instance, $199 to replace the battery that has been glued into place.

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